The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-05-26
A TERRIBLE SECRET.

She was dying, and, although but 80
years Of age, appeared to be 20. Gasping
for breath, racked by nervous tremors,
and paler than the sheets upon which she
lay, it seemed as If her wild and sunken
eyes already beheld some frightful vision.
Her sister, Suzanne de Therelles, six
years her senior, knelt beside her, sobbing
bitterly. Upon little table, drawn close
to the side of the couch, a clean napkin
had been placed and two lighted tapers,
for they were awaiting the arrival of the
priest, coming to give extreme JUNCTION
and the last communion. ... --i e.. 4. J
The apartment had that sinister aspect,
that air of despairing adieux, peculiar to
the chambers OF the dying; walls of medi-
cine stood about upon the furniture;
by the foot or the broom, and the chairs,
disordered and huddled iii groups, seemed
rs If affrighted, and death was there, con-
cealed and waiting. l.. ..-.....
The history of these sisters was o very
sad and touching one, and talked of far
and near through the neighborhood.
Suzanne, the eldest, had been devotedly
loved in her youth by young man, hand
some and good, and to whom she also was
much attached. They were fiancees and
only waited the day fixed by the contract
to marry, when suddenly Henri de SAM
pierre was taken i'll and died. The despair
Of the young girl was frightful She
swore that she would never marry, and,
putting on the dress Of the widowed,
which she never again left off, Mile. dc
Therelles kept her word.
One morning as she was sitting in her
room thinking sorrowfully Of the trouble
that had fallen upon her so cruelty tho
doom opened, and Marguerite, at that time
not yet Is years of age, threw herself into
her sisters arms, murmuring between
her sobs: "Do not cry, Suzanne. Oh, do
not cry. It breaks my heart to see you
grieve. Surely you will not cry all your
life, for IL will never leave you; never!
Like you will never marry, but remain
with you always" ....... .
Suzanne embraced her tenderly,
to the heart by the child's deyo-
ton. Nevertheless, she did not believe
her; the day would come to Marguerite
that had come to her-she would love,
and then she would be alone again.
Suzanne, however, was mistaken; years
passed on, and the little one held to her
word. In spite Of the prayers of her pa
rents and the supplications of her sister She
resolutely refused to marry. Beautiful,
and general favorite among
tho young men of the neighborhood, moth
ing could alter her decigion-she would
never quit her sister.
And thus they lived together side by
side IN inseparable companionship, But
was always sad, more detected
and melancholy, If possible, than Suzanne
herself. 1t seemed as il the sacrifice she
had made, sublime as it was, had literally
crushed her. She grew old faster than
her sister; her hair turned as white as
snow before she was 10, and, constantly
suffering, she seemed like one struck by
some strange disease which always preyed
upon her.
Now she was dying, and dying first In
twenty-four hours she had spoken but
once, and that only to ask for the cure
"Bid him come" she whispered
IBID him come, and quickly"
Suzanne had obeyed. Lying upon her
back, her haggard features drawn by
frightful spasms, her lips moving without
a sound, her eyes fixed and
sunken, Marguerite de Therelles was
hideous to look upon. Sobbing bitterly,
Suzanne still knelt beside her,
Suddenly there was the noise of foot
steps on the stairs, a moment later q priest
in his surplice entered the room and
leaned above the dying woman AS soon
rs she saw him she began to toss rest,
lessly about the bed.
'God pardon you, my child" said the
old cure tenderly; "God pardon you and
give you peace! The hour has come--you
must speakm ,.,. .... ..... .
Marguerite shuddered from head to
foot as she heard the cures words. Again
and again she struggled to obey, but her
voice broke and died away in a stiied
rattle. ..',., ... - ... = r.. ..
sit by me, Suzanne she whispered
ut last; "sit by me that you may hear and
listen" .,.
Suzanne. astounded, rose to her feet
and seated herself beside her sister,
"God give them strength and send upon
them thy healing mercy" said the old
cure solemnly, lifting the hands of tho two
women and holding them in his own.
Then Marguerite began. ....
pardon me, Suzanne she cried;
pardon your wretched sister. All, il you
could only know how have suffered, how
have dreaded this hour, dreaded it all
my lie longrf ......
Pardon you, my little oner' Suzanne
repeated; "but what am to pardon you
FORT? Have you not sacrificed yourself for
me? Have you not been an angelsn
''No, no. said Marguerite wildly, "be
silent, ! beg. / will tell you ALL 1t is
,rightful, frightful; but do not stop me-
Speak must, even to the shameful end.
Do you remember Henri, Suzannes" ap-
pealing abruptly to her sister. Suzanne
started and turned pale. Remember
Henri? Would she ever forget him2
YES" she answered, II remember
him" ..- -..s aa--r... - s.. ,.......-..
HE died" continued Marguerite, 'sbe-
ore was 15-yes, before was Is How
spoiled / was! How determined to have
ny own wayi But never mind that now;
ct us return to Henri. You remember,
10 you not, the first time he cames 1t
vas to bring us news Of father. 1 saw
him dismount from his horse. He was so
handsome, SO noble looking! waited in
he corner of the salon all the time he was
alking. Children are so strange, SO ter
'iblep' she murmured, in tones of agony,
After this he came almost every day. !
watched him always, always. / was far
more artful than you knew, my sistor, for
thought only of him, aud, child as was,
loved him. . -
"When they told me he was going to
marry you it was blow-a blow so ter
ible that night after night spent the
hours in crying that should have been
,ven to sleep. You remember, Suzanne,
hat every morning after breakfast Henri
would come to spend the day with us, and
hat frequently you made for him a plate
4 those little cakes of which he was SO
fond-I can see him eating
hem now, and afterward drinking glass
4 wine. Eso -
AS the day for your marriage ap-
how jealous I became-how
errfbly, cruelty jealous! At last, abouta
ortnight before the wedding day, think
must have lost my senses. He shall
ever marry, ] said to myself; above all,
e shall never marry Suzannep -t,r 80
"One evening, day or two before the
lime fixed by Che contract, you were walk
ng together in the moonlight before the
chateau, and Henri took you in his arms
md embraced you, holding you to his
heart SO long, so tenderly. All, well I
Jaw you; was there, hidden in
he bushes, and was seized with a
fierce rage. NO. ! said to myself; he
hall never marry, neither Suzanne, my
lister, nor any one else. ] should be too
and suddenly began 70 bate